With its army about to be indicted for crimes against humanity, it is shocking that Myanmar's government continues to violate the rights it so very recently swore to uphold. Last week, with global eyes already on Nay Pyi Taw, the government threw more journalists in jail. Three men from the Eleven Media company are inside infamous Insein Prison on extremely flimsy charges amounting once again to essentially practising journalism while Burmese. The government of Aung San Suu Kyi once again is trying to defend the scandalous arrests as "law and order".
The three men in handcuffs are executive editors Kyaw Zaw Lin and Nayi Min and chief reporter Phyo Wai Win. On Monday, Oct 8, their newspaper -- the most popular in the country -- published an article dealing with funding of the Yangon city bus network. The buses and the entirely opaque new YBS transportation system are run by Phyo Min Thein. He is vital to the story, because he is both the chief minister of Yangon and a close confidant and protege of Ms Suu Kyi.
On the next evening, Tuesday, a mob of Yangon police raided the offices of Eleven Media. In addition to rifling the premises, they said they were seeking the three men. The next morning, Oct 10, all three reported to police. In short order, police officers read charges of "causing fear or alarm" and they were arrested, bound and transported to the Insein Prison.
